TDS SHAREHOLDERS
VOTE FOR A TRULY INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR
TO HELP UNLOCK SHAREHOLDER VALUE
April 17, 1997
DEAR FELLOW TDS SHAREHOLDER:
Franklin Mutual Advisers, Inc. ("Franklin Mutual") is seeking your support
to elect one nominee to the eleven member Board of Directors of Telephone and
Data Systems, Inc. ("TDS"). We are one of TDS' largest shareholders with
beneficial ownership of almost 5.3 million shares, or 9.8% of the Company's
outstanding Common Stock. In our view, the Carlson family-controlled TDS is not
being run today for the benefit of all TDS Shareholders and requires a stronger
and more independent Board of Directors.
Therefore, we have nominated Martin L. Solomon, a highly qualified and
experienced businessman, for election to the Board. We are taking this action
because of the unwillingness of the TDS Board of Directors to unlock substantial
shareholder value. Mr. Solomon is committed to representing the interests of all
TDS Shareholders and, if elected, will be an independent voice on the Board. We
urge you to support our highly qualified, independent candidate, who is pledged
to represent your interests and maximize the value of your investment, by
signing, dating and mailing your BLUE proxy card.
TAKE A CLOSER LOOK
AT THE TDS RECORD OF FAILURE
Notwithstanding a great bull market, your TDS investment has performed
miserably over the last five years. The following information, taken directly
from the Company's own proxy statement, assumes a $100 investment on December
31, 1991 and measures cumulative total returns through December 31, 1996,
including the reinvestment of dividends. Take a closer look at TDS' performance
and compare it to the S&P 500 Index and the TDS selected Peer Group. You be the
judge of the Company's performance.
[The following table was represented as a bar graph in the printed material.]
Comparison of Cumulative Total
Returns at December 31, 1996
S&P 500 $203.05
TDS Peer Group $168.49
TDS $106.77
$100 Invested on December 31, 1991
<PAGE>
Unfortunately there's more. In addition to its own miserable performance,
the performance of the Company's majority owned, publicly traded subsidiaries --
United States Cellular, American Paging, and Aerial Communications -- has also
been abysmal. Consider the following:
o United States Cellular's five year performance through December 31, 1996
lagged both the S&P 500 and its peer group.
o Aerial Communications, which began trading on April 25, 1996 at $17 per
share, currently trades at $531/48, a decline of about 68%.
o American Paging, which began trading on February 10, 1994 at $14 per
share, currently trades a 351/48, a decline of about 74%.
We are extremely disappointed with the long term performance of TDS and
its majority owned subsidiaries -- and you should be disappointed as well.
In our view, the Company's acquisition policy has contributed significantly
to the decline in value of your stock. Over the same five year period through
December 31, 1996, the number of TDS shares outstanding has soared 75%,
primarily due to acquisitions using undervalued currency -- TDS common stock. We
believe that these Board-endorsed deals have been dilutive and ill advised,
destroying shareholder value. We think you will agree -- the time for change is
now!
THE CARLSON-DOMINATED BOARD OF DIRECTORS
In addition to its ill conceived acquisition program, we believe that TDS'
poor stock performance is due in part to its dual-class voting structure. This
structure perpetuates control by the Carlson family and serves to disenfranchise
other shareholders. Nowhere is this Carlson domination more evident than on the
Board. Consider the composition of the current Board of Directors.
[The following table was represented as a pie graph in the printed material.]
Directors
- ---------
Inside 91%
Unaffilliated 9%
WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?
<PAGE>
THE TDS BOARD CONSISTS OF 10 "INSIDE" DIRECTORS:
o 4 Carlson Family Members The Carlsons effectively control TDS through their
ownership of supervoting (10 votes per share) Class A Common Stock;
o 4 Company Employees These members are dependent on the Carlsons for their
livelihood. Shareholders should be aware that the sole member of the Board's
Compensation Committee is Leroy T. Carlson, Jr., President of TDS;
o 2 "Paid" Members Two purportedly "outside" directors benefited, directly or
indirectly, from special fee arrangements with the Company in 1996. One director
was paid $133,800 for consulting services; and the other director's law firm
provided legal services to TDS in 1996 for an undisclosed amount; and
1 UNAFFILIATED DIRECTOR
o 1 Member This member has been selected by the 10 "inside" directors to
represent your interests.
We believe that the evidence is incontrovertible: the Carlson-dominated
Board has failed to enhance value for and is not accountable to all
shareholders. The time for change is now. PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND MAIL YOUR BLUE
PROXY TODAY.
We are not alone in our views. Other investment professionals believe that
the per share value of the Company's businesses far exceeds the market value of
the stock. For example, Thomas Kurey, securities analyst for Everen Securities,
estimated in a report dated January 10, 1997 that the company's "private market
value" was $96 per share. Today the stock is trading at only $38, a discount of
over 60%. Despite shareholder discontent, the Company and its Board have refused
to take the steps to close the value gap. We believe that our nominee, Martin
Solomon, will be an effective voice encouraging the Board to unlock value for
all shareholders.
ACT NOW TO MAXIMIZE VALUE
Franklin Mutual shares your interest in seeing the Company's value
maximized for the benefit of all owners. To do so, it is imperative that TDS
have a stronger and more independent Board of Directors that will work to
recognize the substantial values inherent in the Company's businesses. As a
general matter, we believe that TDS should immediately stop issuing its
undervalued stock in making acquisitions. It is imperative that TDS study its
capital structure and adopt changes to permit the Company to realize its
inherent values. These changes may include the sale or spinoff of certain of its
businesses. Bottom line, the Board must take its head out of the sand and focus
on shareholder value today.
<PAGE>
We believe that Martin L. Solomon will add an important element of
independence and financial experience to the Board and that his election will
send a strong message to the other Board members that shareholders are
dissatisfied with the Company's performance. Mr. Solomon's career as an analyst,
portfolio manager, and owner and director of businesses has given him the
understanding of what creates value for owners and how to realize it. Mr.
Solomon will be your voice, dedicated to maximizing value for all TDS owners.
We believe it is in your best interest to support the election of Martin
Solomon as a Class I director of TDS. Please sign, date and mail your Blue proxy
card promptly in the postage-paid envelope enclosed. Your vote is important, so
please act today.
We are committed to acting in the best interests of all TDS shareholders
and to seeing the value of our investment -- and yours -- enhanced. Thank you
for your support.
Sincerely,
/s/ Lawrence N. Sondike /s/ Peter A. Langerman /s/ Martin L. Solomon
- ---------------------- ------------------------ --------------------
Lawrence N. Sondike Peter A. Langerman Martin L. Solomon
Senior Vice President Senior Vice President Private Investor
Franklin Mutual Advisers, Franklin Mutual Advisers,
Inc. Inc.
IMPORTANT
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1. Be sure to vote on the BLUE proxy card. Vote "FOR" the FMAI nominee. We
urge you not to sign any proxy card which is sent to you by TDS. Remember,
each properly executed proxy you submit revokes all prior proxies.
2. If any of your shares are held in the name of a bank, broker or other
nominee, please contact the party responsible for your account and direct
him/her to vote on the BLUE proxy card "FOR" the FMAI nominee. You should
also return your FMAI proxy by mail once received.
3. If you have questions or need assistance in voting your shares, please
contact:
D. F. KING & CO., INC.
1-800-207-3158 (toll free)
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